[[Image:World canonical territories.png|right|thumb|600px|Map of the canonical territories of autocephalous and autonomous Orthodox jurisdictions ("churches"). Where a certain territory is disputed (either between two different churches or one church claims it as its territory while others consider it part of the diaspora), it is shown shaded. Click image to magnify.]]

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The '''[[autocephaly|autocephalous]] and [[autonomy|autonomous]] Orthodox churches''' are those churches (i.e. [[jurisdiction]]s) which have self-government. These jurisdictions are united in doctrine and worship, they recognize each other as canonical, they are in [[full communion]], and together they constitute ''the Orthodox Church''. The use of the term "churches" to refer to the various jurisdictions is informal; strictly speaking, they are just parts of the One Church, the Orthodox Church.

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The fact that these jurisdictions are in full communion with each other means that they recognize each other as parts of the Orthodox Church. However, it does not necessarily mean that they agree about each other's precise ''rank'' or ''status'' within the Church. The autocephaly or autonomy of several bodies is disputed. This means that there is a disagreement about whether the bodies in question are self-governing or not. So, for example, some consider the Orthodox Church in America to be self-governing, while others consider it to be a part of the Church of Russia.

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The '''[[autocephaly|autocephalous]] and [[autonomy|autonomous]] Orthodox churches''' are those churches which have self-government.

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As a result, there are two ways to make a list of autocephalous and autonomous churches. The first way is to list only the jurisdictions that are ''universally'' recognized as self-governing. This may be called the "minimal list", and it is used in most inter-Orthodox gatherings. The second way is to list all those jurisdictions that are recognized as self-governing by ''at least one'' other jurisdiction.

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Despite these churches all being in [[full communion]] with one another, there is not currently unanimous agreement on which churches are considered autocephalous or autonomous. There is, however, an order which is followed in international Inter-Orthodox gatherings, which is included here first. There is an expanded order which is recognized by some churches, most notably the [[Church of Russia]] and its dependencies and historical daughter churches.

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Groups that are ''not'' in communion with the mainstream Orthodox Church, such as some of the [[Old Calendarists]], are excluded from both versions of the list.

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==Inter-Orthodox order==

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==Minimal list==

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This is a list of churches that are recognized as autocephalous or autonomous by '''all''' the others. They are shown here in the canonical order established by Church Tradition.

===Autocephalous churches===

===Autocephalous churches===

*[[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]]

*[[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]]

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*[[Church of Finland]]

*[[Church of Finland]]

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==Expanded order==

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==Expanded list==

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This is a list of churches that are recognized as autocephalous or autonomous by '''at least some''' of the others. They are also shown here in canonical order.

===Autocephalous churches===

===Autocephalous churches===

*[[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]]

*[[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]]

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*[[Orthodox Church in America]] (autocephaly recognized only by Moscow, Bulgaria, Georgia, Poland, and the Czech Lands and Slovakia)

*[[Orthodox Church in America]] (autocephaly recognized only by Moscow, Bulgaria, Georgia, Poland, and the Czech Lands and Slovakia)

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It should be noted that in the [[diptych]]s of the Moscow Patriarchate and some of its daughter churches (e.g., the OCA), the ranking of four of the patriarchal churches is different. Following Moscow in rank is Georgia, followed by Serbia, Romania, and then Bulgaria. The remainder of the rankings beginning with Cyprus is the same.

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It should be noted that in the [[diptychs]] of the Moscow Patriarchate and some of its daughter churches (e.g. the OCA), the ranking of four of the patriarchal churches is different. Following Moscow in rank is Georgia, then Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria. The remainder of the rankings beginning with Cyprus is the same.

===Autonomous churches===

===Autonomous churches===

*[[Church of Sinai]]

*[[Church of Sinai]]

*[[Church of Finland]]

*[[Church of Finland]]

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*[[Church of Estonia]] (autonomy recognized by Constantinople but not Moscow)

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*[[Church of Estonia (Ecumenical Patriarchate)|Church of Estonia]] (autonomy recognized by Constantinople but not Moscow)

*[[Church of Japan]] (autonomy recognized by Moscow but not Constantinople)

*[[Church of Japan]] (autonomy recognized by Moscow but not Constantinople)

*[[Church of China]] (virtually non-existent, autonomy recognized by Moscow but not Constantinople)

*[[Church of China]] (virtually non-existent, autonomy recognized by Moscow but not Constantinople)

*[[Church of Ukraine]] (autonomy recognized by Moscow but not Constantinople)

*[[Church of Ukraine]] (autonomy recognized by Moscow but not Constantinople)

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*[[Archdiocese of Ohrid]] (autonomy recognized only by Serbia]]

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*[[Archdiocese of Ohrid]]

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==Formerly independent churches==

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==Former self-governing churches==

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These churches were formerly autocephalous or autonomous, no longer Orthodox, or in some cases no longer exist.

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These churches were formerly autocephalous or autonomous, but they are no longer Orthodox, or in some cases no longer exist.

*[[Church of Carthage]]

*[[Church of Carthage]]

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*[[Church of Rome]] (See [[Great Schism]])

*[[Church of Rome]] (See [[Great Schism]])

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==Unrecognized independent churches==

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==Unrecognized self-governing churches==

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The following churches are variously unrecognized by the mainstream churches as independent and/or canonical.

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The following churches are either in [[schism]] from the mainstream Orthodox Church, or they are in communion with her but not recognized as self-governing by any jurisdiction except themselves. <!-- We really should separate the ones that are in schism from the ones that are in communion but don't have recognition for their autocephaly/autonomy. -->

*[[Church of Ukraine (Kiev Patriarchate)]]

*[[Church of Ukraine (Kiev Patriarchate)]]

*[[Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church]]

*[[Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church]]

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*[[Orthodox Church of France]]

*[[Macedonian Orthodox Church]]

*[[Macedonian Orthodox Church]]

*[[Montenegrin Orthodox Church]]

*[[Montenegrin Orthodox Church]]

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*[[Autonomy]]

*[[Autonomy]]

*[[List of Patriarchs]]

*[[List of Patriarchs]]

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{{churches}}

==Sources==

==Sources==

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*[http://www.oca.org/OCworldindex.asp?SID=2 World Orthodox Churches], from the [[OCA]] website

*[http://www.oca.org/OCworldindex.asp?SID=2 World Orthodox Churches], from the [[OCA]] website

Revision as of 06:22, September 18, 2013

Map of the canonical territories of autocephalous and autonomous Orthodox jurisdictions ("churches"). Where a certain territory is disputed (either between two different churches or one church claims it as its territory while others consider it part of the diaspora), it is shown shaded. Click image to magnify.

The autocephalous and autonomous Orthodox churches are those churches (i.e. jurisdictions) which have self-government. These jurisdictions are united in doctrine and worship, they recognize each other as canonical, they are in full communion, and together they constitute the Orthodox Church. The use of the term "churches" to refer to the various jurisdictions is informal; strictly speaking, they are just parts of the One Church, the Orthodox Church.

The fact that these jurisdictions are in full communion with each other means that they recognize each other as parts of the Orthodox Church. However, it does not necessarily mean that they agree about each other's precise rank or status within the Church. The autocephaly or autonomy of several bodies is disputed. This means that there is a disagreement about whether the bodies in question are self-governing or not. So, for example, some consider the Orthodox Church in America to be self-governing, while others consider it to be a part of the Church of Russia.

As a result, there are two ways to make a list of autocephalous and autonomous churches. The first way is to list only the jurisdictions that are universally recognized as self-governing. This may be called the "minimal list", and it is used in most inter-Orthodox gatherings. The second way is to list all those jurisdictions that are recognized as self-governing by at least one other jurisdiction.

Groups that are not in communion with the mainstream Orthodox Church, such as some of the Old Calendarists, are excluded from both versions of the list.

It should be noted that in the diptychs of the Moscow Patriarchate and some of its daughter churches (e.g. the OCA), the ranking of four of the patriarchal churches is different. Following Moscow in rank is Georgia, then Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria. The remainder of the rankings beginning with Cyprus is the same.